Point source biological agent detection system

• US 20040063198A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Schmidt, John C., DiFurio, Gabriel A., Tilles, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,405,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/10 in the liquid or fluent state burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2211 with cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4077 by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2217 using a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method and apparatus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for collecting air samples and identifying biological agents in the air sample. The apparatus is capable of detecting transient events such as bacillus anthracis in a piece of mail being processed on high-speed mail processing equipment. The system includes apparatus for implementing the following features: particle collection and pre-separation using a collection hood and dry cyclone passive filtration system; continuous particle collection into a liquid sample; automated fluid transfer to a PCR analysis cartridge; and PCR biological identifier apparatus for detecting a bio-agent in a piece of mail following manual transport of the cartridge to the identifier apparatus; retesting of the liquid sample upon various error conditions; confirmation testing upon preliminary positive results; fluid transfer to archive containers at the completion of analysis; and, notification/reporting system to alert designated personnel/organizations upon the occurrence of selected events such as the presence of bacillus anthracis.

Claims

1. A biological agent detection system, comprising:

collection and concentrator apparatus for collecting an aerosol sample of particles of an aerosolized biological agent at a monitored location and for producing a liquid sample of the aerosol sample, the collection apparatus including a collection device configured for placement at a pinch point location or at a location that causes particle expulsions on mail sorting equipment;

fluidics apparatus for delivering a portion of the liquid sample to a receptacle;

biological agent identifier apparatus adapted to receive the receptacle, when transported thereto, and analyze the liquid sample in the receptacle for a biological agent;

control apparatus for providing control of the system, and for reporting the test results provided by the biological agent identifier apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said control apparatus provides semi-automated control of the collector and biological identifier apparatus and the receptacle is manually transported from the collector apparatus to the biological agent identifier apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the biological agent identifier apparatus comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) bio-agent identifier.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge type receptacle.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the cartridge type receptacle comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cartridge.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collection and concentrator apparatus operates continuously to collect samples of particles.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the fluidics apparatus periodically delivers a portion of the liquid sample to said receptacle prior to the receptacle being transported to the biological agent identifier apparatus.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the biological agent identifier apparatus comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) bio-agent identifier.

9. The system according to claim 3 wherein the collection device comprises a hood, shroud, or other collection device positioned at a collection point of the monitored location.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the hood, shroud, or other collection device is located along a mail transport path of mail processing equipment.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the hood comprises an assembly including an elongated sampling structure, adapted to capture particles in the immediate vicinity, and overlaying a dual belt mail transport assembly.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the assembly of the hood includes a pair of side channels on either side of the mail transport path and having cut-outs therein for the passage of the belts of the mail transport assembly.

13. The system according to claim 11 and additionally including mail pinching apparatus under the sampling structure of the hood.

14. The system according to claim 10 and additionally including mail pinching apparatus located adjacent the shroud/hood at a mail pinch point along the mail transport path.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the pinching apparatus includes a singulator.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collection and concentrator apparatus includes a dry cyclone pre-separator and a wet-cyclone aerosol concentrator assembly.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the fluidics apparatus is capable of temporarily holding a sample in a reservoir where it can be accessed for one or more analyses, while the aerosol concentrator apparatus is collecting a next sample.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the fluidics apparatus additionally archives a remaining portion of the liquid sample.

19. The system according to claim, 1 wherein the receptacle contains an assay for a single gene sequence of a target biological agent and an internal control.

20. The system according to claim 1 wherein the biological agent identifier apparatus comprises a single bay unit including automatic cartridge exchange.

21. The system according to claim 1 wherein the control apparatus includes a local machine control computer connected to and controlling the operation of the biological agent identifier apparatus, the aerosol concentrator apparatus, and the fluidics apparatus.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the control apparatus additionally includes a site command and control computer connected to and controlling the machine control computer as well as communicating the results of the analyses to said predetermined location.

23. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including a cabinet for housing the concentrator apparatus, the fluidics apparatus, and the biological agent identifier apparatus.

24. A method of detecting a biological agent in items to be delivered and being transported along a transport path, comprising the steps of:

collecting an aerosol sample from said items at a predetermined location of the transport path, the location corresponding to a pinch point where said items are singulated, or at a location where said items are agitated in a manner as to expunge particulates from them;

producing a liquid sample of the aerosol sample;

delivering a portion of the liquid sample to a cartridge type receptacle;

transporting the receptacle to biological agent identifier apparatus wherein said identifier apparatus analyses the liquid sample for particles of a predetermined biological agent; and

reporting the results of the analyses provided by the identifier apparatus to a predetermined location.

25. The method according to claim 24 and additionally including the step of providing semi-automated control of the method.

26. The method according to claim 24 wherein said items comprise mail items.

27. The method according to claim 24 wherein the step of transporting comprises manually transporting a receptacle containing the liquid sample to the biological agent identifier apparatus.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the biological agent identifier apparatus comprises a polymerase chain reactor (PCT) bio-agent identifier.

29. The method according to claim 24 wherein the step of collecting an aerosol sample includes the step of pinching said items at a pinch point along the transport path, or agitating said items in a manner as to facilitate the release of contained particulates.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the step of collecting an aerosol sample includes locating an apparatus for pinching said items and a shroud, hood, or other collection device for collecting aerosol samples pinched and/or expunged from said items.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein the step of delivering a portion of the liquid sample includes the step of temporarily storing the sample in a reservoir where it can be accessed for one or more analyses.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the step of delivering includes archiving a remaining portion of the liquid sample.

33. The method according to claim 24 wherein the step of producing a liquid sample includes using a dry cyclone pre-separator and a web cyclone aerosol concentrator assembly.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of providing control of the method includes using machine control computer apparatus.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of providing control of the method also includes using a site control computer apparatus for controlling the machine control computer apparatus and for communicating the results of the analyses to said predetermined location.